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PA MONTANA OIL PRODUCTION COMPANY AND ITS PRESIDENT INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL WASTE DISPOSAL

Release Date: 10/30/98Contact Information:

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1998

MONTANA OIL PRODUCTION COMPANY AND ITS PRESIDENT

INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL WASTE DISPOSAL

Balko Inc., of Conrad, Mont. and its president, John J. Balkenbush, III, were indicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Montana in Great Falls on Oct. 27, for allegedly violating the Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Balkenbush and Balko provided field and operations services for oil production companies throughout Montana. The defendants allegedly disposed of wastewater and other waste fluids periodically over several years into abandoned oil and gas wells without UIC permits allowing the wells to be used as disposal sites. If convicted, the company could be fined up to $500,000. Balkenbush faces a maximum sentence of up to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000, if convicted. This case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division.